'Silly' burglar spared jail

David Gardner had to be rescued by firefighters

A burglar who became trapped in a chimney for seven hours after trying to break into a pub has been spared jail.

David Gardner, 28, had to be rescued by firefighters after a delivery man heard his cries for help coming from a ventilation shaft.

He was given his "last chance" of freedom on Monday by magistrates in Newcastle, after he admitted burglary with intent.

Six feet tall Gardner had crawled into the 18 inch wide shaft, armed with screw drivers, pliers, a hammer, and chisel - believing it would lead him straight to where cash was kept.

He managed to wriggle down 12 feet of aluminium piping, before he became lodged in a bend.

It was bit like a cheese grater because all the sharp bits from inside the pipes were sticking into him

Dave Curran, fire officer

Greengrocer Thomas Wrightson heard noises when he arrived at the Twin Farms pub in Newcastle, to deliver fruit at 0610 BST on 28 March.

Gardner claimed he got stuck after trying to rescue a cat just after midnight.

It eventually took firefighters on four engines and a specialist rescue appliance to free him.

The crew used extending ladders to clamber onto the roof and managed to lower a rope to the trapped man.

David Gardner failed to attend an earlier hearing

Gardner managed to clamber down the ladder and was handed straight into the arms of two police officers who were waiting to arrest him.

To compound his humiliation he realised the whole event had been captured by a fire brigade photographer.

West Denton fire station officer Dave Curran told the court: "The man was stuck some 12 feet down the narrow shaft and was out of sight. He was wedged down the bend.

"We lowered a rope down and told him to put his foot in the loop and managed to slowly winch him up," added the fire officer.

"It was bit like a cheese grater because all the sharp bits from inside the pipes were sticking into him.

Full admission

"He was shouting and swearing as he was being brought up as his skin was scraping off his knuckles and other parts of his body. It took about 40 minutes to get him out."

Gardner, of Newbiggen Hall Estate, Newcastle, made a full admission when he was questioned by police officers.

Heroin addict Gardner was given a 12-month drug treatment and testing order.

Chairman of the bench Edward Luck told him: "You made a silly attempt at a crime.

"You risked your life getting out of that chimney and the lives of firemen.

"You have a last chance to get rid of your habit. If you fail to complete the order you know what sentence you can expect."